Chamois lubricants--what's "safe" & where?

[Crankin]

I heartily recommend Astro Glide for the girly bits, along with Chamois Butt'r for the rest. Actually, after having pretty extreme issues last season, the Astro Glide works the best. But, I never have had any issues with the Butt'r causing problems if it gets near the "a-hem" parts. You only need a little bit of Astro Glide and it comes in a small plastic bottle that can fit in a pocket or small bag.
You might want to look into the menopause issue, too. Thinning membranes were playing a role in my discomfort and can easily be cured with topical estrogen or an Estring.

[Miranda]

You ladies are a wonderful wealth of information!

I have taken the info on how to measure sitz bones width for saddles, and think I might have to do this on my own. I have one other bike shop next town over that I might be able to get some more help with, but at least if I know what I am looking for, that is a big step. At least even to search on line with a clue. Also, I still think I am a bit too much on pubic bone in weight, it's better since last bike shop fit, but not quite there. I hope it's not my bike frame itself--just bought new, but I guess we live and learn along the way if so.

Tonight after work before my ride, I went to SG store and bought Chamois Buttr and 1 pair new pricier shorts to ride my weeknight route. A bit more discomfort immediately. The shorts were a smaller size, which is good I think? because even though hip wise, I fit the other shorts right, but in some spots they were more stretched--however, new shorts had a different cut of chamois pad, and I think I hit it differently than the old pairs maybe? Really nice shorts otherwise. Tomorrow think I will try old shorts chamois with the Chamois Buttr, elimating back to one new change, and see what this holds.

Also, thanks for the thoughts on combining products, Astro Glide & Chamois Buttr...I'd mix a homemade chamois lube recipe up in my kitchen sink you ladies gave me if it would work!

Good thoughts about the gyno too--until I found that in a thread, I never knew there was such a cream for the hormones--after self-examination during the bleeding spell, I never realized about being thinner tissue on one side particularly of my anatomy--gettin' old is H*#$.

Thanks again, and for any more information.

[RolliePollie]

I heartily recommend Astro Glide for the girly bits, along with Chamois Butt'r for the rest. Actually, after having pretty extreme issues last season, the Astro Glide works the best.

Another vote for Astroglide! I slather my shorts with unscented lotion like Aveeno Baby Lotion or Curel, then slather myself with Astroglide, and away I go. No problems since. My worst saddle sore was never actually bleeding, but it was painful enough that I knew I had to change something. Now I just make sure everything is nice and slippery and I'm saddle sore free!

[suzieqtwa]

I also use Astroglide. I didnt have the guts to buy it ,or even ask where it was ,so I had my husband buy it for me. Anyway, it works well, and is very slippery. I also use a topicial Estrogen prescription cream. Never have any bleeding ,or rashes.

[Miranda]

Thx for the thoughts about the cream and glide! Gonna ask the gyno when I go for my appointment this week about the rx.

I am curious about the side effects... since it is a hormone, can it make you gain weight like the BC pill, or HRT?

Within the last couple years, I finally lost a lot of extra weight I carried for many of my "home years" post kids, about 40 pounds, and have kept it off within about a 3-5 pound flux. Finally, something for me, and I feel so much better in so many ways without the weight. I would never want to regain it back. But funny how a week family vacation of no gym and bike, and eating out a lot etc. can put this right on you, but then takes FOREVER it seems to get those few pounds back off.

Also, unfortunately from my pelvic prolapse repair surgeries and the docs cutting work, I have decreased sensitivity that my doc said was permanent . Some ladies have improvement from a Testosterone cream, which also is a steriod of some sort and the opposite of our estrogen cream for the bike issues--don't know what happens if you take both? See what the doc says. But I never took the testosteron cream before because of being a steriod. When I took steriods some years ago for something else, it made my hair fall out my the handfulls--like male pattern baldness, and I gained weight regardless of what I did. Also the doc said it only helps 25% of the cases and he had one lady grow sideburns with it . So, I decided I needed to think about it, since I don't think sideburns would be too sexy of a look for me, geez.

Sure the doc will give me the scoop when I go, but just wondering what other experiences ladies may have had first hand with creams? Thx

[Natural Beauty]

I just looked online for the ingredient list of the Chamois Butt's you guys are swearing by and I can't use it.....any other options? Has to be chemical and glycerin free.

[VeloVT]

I just looked online for the ingredient list of the Chamois Butt's you guys are swearing by and I can't use it.....any other options? Has to be chemical and glycerin free.

Check out the ingredients for Assos chamois cream and Body Glide (though these both likely have some vegetable glycerin-like ingredients). Also, there are more and more chamois creams becoming available in the states (I'm assuming you're in the states?)... surf around sites like World Cycling Productions, etc, to see what they're carrying -- and do a google search for "chamois cream." A few products I've seen online but don't know anything about include creams by Ozon, Quoleum and Brave Soldier...

Other than that, how about pure cocoa butter, or some of the thicker cocoa butter cremes you can get in the drugstore (like Palmer's)?

Personally I am surprised that there are so many fans of KY jelly and Astroglide for this purpose -- I tried this once or twice and for me, once you start sweating this type of lube disintegrates almost immediately...

Edit: I read somewhere that Noxema used to be a common chamois lube as well...

[Grog]

It doesn't lube, but it does take care of raw skin: diaper ointment. There might be a "kinder" version out there that would work for you, but that would not lubricate though.

[OakLeaf]

Beljum Budder? (tested and approved by me, paraben free but not totally "natural")

Others have recommended, I haven't tried: Sportique Century Riding Cream (which, their website says "keep away from mucous membranes," ha ha, I guess it's for Men Only); and Nubutte.

[aicabsolut]

Edit: I read somewhere that Noxema used to be a common chamois lube as well...

Could that be from Dave Z's "main-taint-enance" blog years back?

I personally like a mix of Assos and Neosporin. Do not use Assos to close to certain parts. I will put some Neosporin on the outside of the labia, because of chafing that gets so bad it usually peels a couple days later. It is too sensitive to use Assos that close in enough quantity (because of the menthol). I may start trying adding a little of the glycerin free sensitive skin Astroglide to the mix, but only on the sensitive parts where maybe some would survive despite sweating. Assos is great not only in helping keep the whole area cool, infection and friction-free, but when you apply it directly to the chamois as directed, it helps keep the chamois softer. It doesn't wash out 100% with hand washings (only machine), but I don't think it's supposed to, necessarily. It certainly gets clean enough (no odors or anything), and they suggest applying the cream to wet shorts after washing. It's supposed to help keep it soft (though that's probably more applicable to a leather chamois) and clean. Usually I'm too lazy and I just put it on the shorts the the night before a ride or morning of in addition to putting some directly on my skin.

[Natural Beauty]

Thanks for the info. I'm going to have to do some research and give them a go. I will of course post results for those as sensitive as moi.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I just use unscented hand cream for sensitive skin.